Chapter 54

54

Sharent Clown frowned openly the moment he saw me, as if he had immediately grasped the situation.

That guy knows I can use magic, and with my history of running away, it’s no wonder he figured it out.

I glared at Kaishan, who had recklessly run out, and then looked up at Sharent Clown again.

The sudden appearance of us caused a commotion around the area.

"Isn't that the young Clown?"

"Who's the kid next to him?"

"Oh, one of the Clowns' troublemakers…"

"But how did they get here?"

"For kids to come this far…"

"Come to think of it, there have been strange occurrences at the Duke's mansion recently…"

I could hear the nobles whispering in low voices.

They probably think their low voices mean others can't hear them.

But if I can hear it, Sharent Clown must be able to hear it as if they were shouting right next to him.

He was silent for a moment, then rubbed his forehead as if tired.

"Kaishan, Sherina. Who told you to climb onto the supply cart?"

Ah, he’s trying to smooth things over.

I guess it’s possible that the perception of mages in noble families isn’t good yet.

Having someone with magical talent in a prestigious Duke's family could be a source of shame.

So, I should play along.

"Out of curiosity…"

I glanced at Sharent Clown and mumbled weakly.

Sharent Clown's eyes suddenly narrowed.

"I found the carriage and suggested we climb on."

Kaishan seemed to have picked up on his father's cues.

"Ah… the supply cart."

"Indeed, our child used to hide in all sorts of places in the past."

The suspicion was gradually fading.

Sharent Clown finally lowered his voice and beckoned with his hand.

A person at the front of the Simula Knights stepped forward.

"Schutocal, select a few men to send the children back."

Sharent Clown said, looking at one of the knights.

"Yes, my lord."

"You can talk about it when you return."

He said it in a low voice, almost as if brushing it off.

His gaze, which was colder than usual, was fixed on me.

'He's usually cold, but not this much.'

His expression showed his anger. He must be really upset.

I just wanted to take a quick look at the new ruins and come back.

I had no intention of doing anything dangerous and planned to be back within an hour.

'Honestly, I've been locked up in the mansion for over two years! I'm suffocating.'

I just…

Various excuses came to mind, but my pride kept me from saying anything.

If he doesn’t want to, what can I say?

I bowed my head and tightly closed my mouth, and Sharent Clown turned around resolutely.

"Let's go in, Your Majesty."

Tch, how low.

"Hmm, the young Clown I know isn't the type to do such things…"

The person who seemed to be the emperor chuckled.

"Considering your desperation, I'll let it slide this time."

As I turned to go to Kaishan, I heard the emperor's voice.

Zing.

The air trembled.

More precisely, I felt a small magical fluctuation around me.

A magical fluctuation is similar to the vibration of air. Even a typical mage might not notice it if they aren't sensitive enough.

'What is it?'

As I turned to identify the source of the magic, an invisible, intangible force grabbed my waist.

My body was lifted into the air.

The Simula Knights, seeing this, stretched out their arms, but the body in the air accelerated even faster.

I was thrown backward as if being sucked into something.

"Sherina!"

Kaishan, who had run over, grabbed my wrist tightly as I was about to fly away.

Kaishan, entangled with me, was thrown into the entrance of the ruins along with me.

Sharent Clown, noticing us passing by at high speed, stretched out his arm, but we were already forced inside the ruins.

'Ah, damn it.'

Could it really end like this?

Sharent Clown, who rarely showed emotion, immediately stepped into the ruins.

The moment I entered the ruins, the mysterious magical force that had grabbed me disappeared.

However, my body, which had already gained momentum, continued to fly inside the ruins.

The tunnel-like passage was lined with rough stones on all sides.

Bracing for the impact, I curled up my body when a firm yet soft something caught us in the middle.

When I opened my eyes, thick arms were holding Kaishan and me around the waist.

One of my wrists was still in Kaishan's hand, who had jumped in to protect me.

Kaishan, pale as a ghost, panted heavily and looked at me.

I, too, let out a sigh of relief and glanced up.

"Ranian…?"

Muttering Ranian's name, he looked at me. He was the Holy Knight who had married Ranian.

"Do you remember me?"

"Um."

How could I forget? He's the one who stole my number one, Ranian.

The Holy Knight's stern lips seemed to twitch slightly at my answer.

He slowly put me down and took a step back as footsteps approached.

"Kaishan, Sherina!"

Sharent Clown's voice was filled with unprecedented confusion.

I stiffened involuntarily at his call.

Sharent approached with large strides and embraced Kaishan.

I was surprised.

'I didn't expect him to call my name.'

I glanced at Sharent Clown, who was kneeling in front of Kaishan and checking the child's body, then turned my head away.

The entrance to the ruins was a long cave-like passage. It was like any other ruin.

This ruin had a deep underground space.

Each level had monsters or ancient riddles, and the explorers had to defeat the monsters or solve the riddles to proceed to the next level.

No one knew how many levels the ruin had, so they had to keep going until the end.

Once inside, you couldn't leave the ruin until you completed the exploration or reached the lower levels.

In other words, there was a risk of death.

However, if the emperor himself came, it must mean he was confident in his abilities.

Moreover, the conditions were related to the king, making it a very challenging task.

'How many levels are there?'

I didn't expect to really come in.

"Sherina, are you hurt anywhere?"

Sharent Clown, having checked Kaishan, suddenly picked me up.

Being held by the armpits and dangled wasn't a pleasant feeling.

I glared at him in discomfort, but Sharent Clown ignored it, pressing my body here and there before putting me down.

A sigh escaped his lips.

"Little Duke Clown, are you alright?"

"You two, go back to the entrance."

Sharent Clown, nodding absentmindedly at the emperor's words, grabbed the back of Kaishan's and my necks and placed us near the entrance.

I could feel his excitement, unlike his usual self.

Ugh, my pride is hurt.

I'm not a disobedient dog, what is this? There's no need to grab the back of my neck.

'What a low-down person.'

And once you enter, you can't leave the ruins.

"Hurry."

Sharent Clown said sternly.

He probably knows, but he's worried, so he's saying it.

I haven't received such worry in a long time.

'I don't want to follow you into danger in this body.'

Kaishan, who had been watching, reached out first.

But as he placed his hand on the entrance to leave the ruins, sparks flew.

Sharent Clown's face darkened immediately.